Ryan Adams Boldly Goes Sci-Fi With New Album

Ryan Adams has released a "fully-realised sci-fi metal concept album," called 'Orion,' that will only find a physical release on that cutting-edge format known as vinyl.

Titles such as 'Imminent Galactic War,' 'Ghorgon, Master Of War' and 'Victims of the Ice Brigade' suggest a stark change in subject matter for the solo artist previously connected to the alternative country scene.

Recorded in 2006, the album is produced by long-term associate Jamie Candiloro, who is also credited as playing drums and synths. He produced Adams's 'Easy Tiger' album with previous band the Cardinals.

'Orion' is being released in unspecified numbers on clear vinyl -- "this is an extremely limited pressing. You've been warned," a statement on Adams's website read. The package comes with access to a digital version and artwork by Michel Langevin, a founder member of Canadian rockers Voivod. He is largely credited with devising the post-apocalyptic mythos that haunts their music.

This is Adams's first full-length release since splitting from the Cardinals in March 2009, when the prolific artist announced he was taking a break from music following his marriage to Mandy Moore. It is released on the artist's own Pax-Am label, which he revived last year, as reported in Spinner.